Auxiliary tip for the rear end of a ski runner of a snowmobile

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary tip for the rear end of a ski runner of a snowmobile including a body having a bottom with spaced sidewalls with a flange on each sidewall overlying the bottom and an arcuate upturned end extending from the bottom together with a spring mounted on at least one of the side walls for gripping engagement of a ski runner positioned between the walls.

ite States atent n 1 Hemmer AUXILIARY TIP FOR THE REAR END OF A SKl RUNNER OF A SNOWMOBILE [76] Inventor: Michael G. Clemmer, Box 224, Babbitt, Minn. 55706 [22] Filed: March 19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 126,071

[52] U.S. Cl. ..280/28, 180/5 R, 280/11.13 T [51] Int. Cl. ..A63c 11/14, B62b 17/00 [58] Field of Search ..280/28, 11.13 T; 180/5 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 948,866 2/1910 Mennenga ..280/28 1,595,632 8/1926 Taft ..280/11.13 T 3,066,326 12/1962 Collins ....280/l 1.13 T X 2,627,442 2/1953 Junker ..l80/5 R X 1March 13, 1973 3,318,403 5/1967 Hansen ..180/5 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2/1900 Norway ..280/l 1.13 T 4/1943 Sweden ..280/l 1113 T Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner--.lohn A. Pekar Attorney-Wicks and Nemer [57] ABSTRACT An auxiliary tip for the rear end of a ski runner of a snowmobile including a body having a bottom with spaced sidewalls with a flange on each sidewall overlying the bottom and an arcuate upturned end extending from the bottom together with a spring mounted on at least one of the side walls for gripping engagement of a ski runner positioned between the walls.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I PATENTEDHAM am I N VEN TOR.

Michael G Clemmer- AUXILIARY TIP FOR THE REAR END OF A SKI RUNNER OF A SNOWMOBILE SUMMARY The invention related broadly to snowmobiles, and more particularly to the ski runners thereof. In the operation of a snowmobile the same may at times get stuck or the engine fail whereby the machine has to be backed up, and with present day machines it is extremely difficult to back up a machine due to the fact that the rear ends of the front ski runners dig into the surface when the machine is being backed. It is an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary tip that may be mounted on the rear end ofa ski runner, the tip having means for receiving and engaging the ski runner and an upturned end which allows the ski runner to ride over the surface and not dig into the surface. The tip may be easily removed for normal forward motion of the snowmobile.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowmobile with the removable ski runner tip embodying the invention shown in operative position on the ski runner of the snowmobile.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ski runner tip removed from the snowmobile.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the ski runner tip.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the ski runner tip.

Referring to the drawings in detail the ski runner tip A includes the body 8 including the flat bottom portion 10 which terminates in the outer arcuate and upturned end portion 12. Extending upwardly from the side edge of the bottom is the first sidewall 14, and formed on the outer end of the sidewall 14 is the outwardly flared portion 16. The numeral 18 designates a second sidewall extending upwardly from the other side endge of the bottom 10, and formed on the outer end of the sidewall 18 is the outwardly flared portion 20.

The upper edge of the first sidewall 14 terminates in the right angular flange 22 which is parallel with and overlies the bottom 10. Similarly the upper edge of the second sidewall terminates in the right angular flange 24 which is parallel with and overlies the bottom 10. Further provided is a shoulder in the form of the stop end wall 26 which is substantially the same vertical dimension as the sidewalls l4 and 18 and is secured to the inner ends of the sidewalls 14 and 18. The bottom 10, the sidewalls l4 and 18 and the flanges 22 and 24 constitute a receiver for the end of the runner.

The numeral 28 designates a depression or receiver slot formed in the bottom portion which receives a projection on the rear underside of a ski runner when the tip A is placed on the rear end ofa ski runner of a snowmobile. Additionally provided is the arcuate leaf spring 30 secured at one end to the inside of the sidewall 14 by means of the rivet 32 and which overlies the sidewall 14. Similarly provided is the arcuate leaf spring 34 secured at one end to the inside of the sidewall 18 by means of the rivet 36.

In use the ski runner tip A is placed on the runner R by placing the rear end of the runner R between the sidewalls l4 and 18 and under the flanges 22 and 24 and forcing the tip A onto the runner R with the end of the runner in abutting engagement with the stop wall 26. The side edges of the runner R also engage and compress the springs 30 and 34 thereby releasably maintaining the tip A upon the runner due to the urging of the springs against the edges of the runner. The distance between the sidewalls l4 and 18 is such that the springs grippingly engage the runner and tend to hold the same against removal. With the tip A in place on the runner R the snowmobile S may be moved in a backward direction without the rear ends of the runner R digging into the ground surface which makes moving ofa snowmobile in a backward direction practically impossible, particularly where the runners are disposed at an angle with the front end elevated.

The tip A may also be constructed without the stop wall 26 and with such construction the ski runner is positioned between the sidewalls with the end of the runner in abutment with upturned end 12.

I claim:

1. An auxiliary tip for the rear end of a ski runner of a snowmobile comprising:

a. a body having b. a receiver portion into which the rear end of a ski is inserted,

c. said body having an arcuate upturned end extending from said receiver portion to guide a ski runner over the surface,

d. said receiver portion including a bottom,

first and second spaced opposed sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom and g. a flange extending inwardly from each of said side walls the length of said sidewalls and overlying said bottom with the edges of the flanges parallely disposed,

h. said arcuate upturned end extending from said bottom,

i. a shoulder upstanding upon said bottom and extending transversely thereof and adjacent said arcuate end for abutment with the end of the ski runner, and

j. flat spring means mounted on the inner surface of at least one sidewall for releasably holding said tip in engagement with the ski runner of a snowmobile.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said bottom has a depression formed therein to receive a projection on the bottom ofa ski runner. 

1. An auxiliary tip for the rear end of a ski runner of a snowmobile comprising: a. a body having b. a receiver portion into which the rear end of a ski is inserted, c. said body having an arcuate upturned end extending from said receiver portion to guide a ski runner over the surface, d. said receiver portion including a bottom, e. first and f. second spaced opposed sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom and g. a flange extending inwardly from each of said side walls the length of said sidewalls and overlying said bottom with the edges of the flanges parallely disposed, h. said arcuate upturned end extending from said bottom, i. a shoulder upstanding upon said bottom and extending transversely thereof and adjacent said arcuate end for abutment with the end of the ski runner, and j. flat spring means mounted on the inner surface of at least one sidewall for releasably holding said tip in engagement with the ski runner of a snowmobile.
 1. An auxiliary tip for the rear end of a ski runner of a snowmobile comprising: a. a body having b. a receiver portion into which the rear end of a ski is inserted, c. said body having an arcuate upturned end extending from said receiver portion to guide a ski runner over the surface, d. said receiver portion including a bottom, e. first and f. second spaced opposed sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom and g. a flange extending inwardly from each of said side walls the length of said sidewalls and overlying said bottom with the edges of the flanges parallely disposed, h. said arcuate upturned end extending from said bottom, i. a shoulder upstanding upon said bottom and extending transversely thereof and adjacent said arcuate end for abutment with the end of the ski runner, and j. flat spring means mounted on the inner surface of at least one sidewall for releasably holding said tip in engagement with the ski runner of a snowmobile. 